The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) secretariat has been re-opened. The Secretariat had been on a one month closure since 9th December 2011.
This was to allow investigations into the cause of the fire and possible reconstruction of part of the secretariat which was gutted by fire on the night of 8th December, 2011.
Key sections of the secretariat that burnt include the entire IT division, the division of Investment, Promotion and private sector development - IPPSD and the Administration division, which also houses the procurement and travel offices. The audit office was also destroyed.
Skeleton staff however had remained at the secretariat to oversee the reconstruction of the affected building.